The Labor enquirer., 1887-10-01
ieorge7 is it Dr.. McGIynn7 is ii

yet obscure unknown, some dark
horse who is yet to be evolved ~
the occasson7-who knows7 That
George possesses in 4 marked de-
gree some, aye, many of the attri-
butes which the leader must pos
sess cannot be truthfully | denied.
AS profound philosopher and
reasoner he stands to-day pre-em-
inent amongst the greatest think
ers of this or any other age. That
he has grasped the social and po-
litical problems of the day and
handled them in a mastery man.
ner is equally true. And yet he
has from some incomprehensible,
some inexplicable cause stopped
just one step short of the grand
truth upon which all his splendid
theories and marvellous reasons
depend for their ultimate solution,
the recognition of which would
have stamped him as the anxiously
expected Moses, for whose COM
ing all are waiting. SAY inexpli-
cable advisedly, for it is very diff
cult to believe that with his
mighty genius he does not see,
feel, know this fact, recognize this
grand truth. If he does, then one
of two things is true, either he is
ambitious or he is a moral coward
and dare not voice truth which
he comprehends and knws to be
such. Of the two prefer, in
chatity, to believe that it is ambi-
ton. He is at best only mortal,
and is not the first nor only great
mind that has been wrecked upon
that rock. Nor will / believe that
his better judgment endorses his
recent acts at Syracuse. But ! do
believe that others, friends(?) ad-
mirers of his genius, realizing the
fact that the time is come when
some one must lead the new party,
and fearing that some other may
get the start of their idol, and thus
leave them out in the cold, have
forced him against his better judg-
m ent to place himself in this false
position, this suicidal policy, this,
to him, fatal blunder by which he
has alienated from himself and his
party forever an element of
strength, without which no new
party can hope for success.
Not all great thinkers are states
men, nor even shrewd politicians
Nor does it detract from their
value to the world at large that
they are not; on the contrary, it
is often best that they keep aloof
from parties and give their time
and brain to their fellow-mortals,
from private life.
Just why George should have
allowed himself to bring on this
uncalled-for issue with Socialism
at this particular time is one of
the mysteries beyond my compre-
hension. They sought no issue
with him nor with his party or
principles. Willing to labor for
his advancement, for the general
good, asking for themselves moth
ing but to be allowed to work for
the advancement of human pro-
gress, and to be let alone. He
forced the issue-ill-advised, inn
polite and uncalled-for. There
must be behind it all some sinis-
ter influence known only to the
initiated, for have too much con-
fdence in George'c honesty, in
tegrity, his profound genius, to be-
lieve that he has not been the vic
tim of some evil spirit or enemy
to the cause we all have so much
at heart. l believe also that when
the sober second thought shall
open his eyes to the folly of his
course, none will regret it more
than he, and that he will hasten
to repair the injury he has unwit-
tingly done the Cause of Progress,
not to say to himself. Mr.. George
will vet learn that the new party
can and will survive even his po-
litical death; that it is born of
Truth; its pane is Progress; its
course onward and upward; its
object Justice, and its end success.